InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part III): Loss of the Demon Soul ❯ A Friend She Can't Protect ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three

A Friend She Can't Protect

Sesshoumaru stood listening to Kagome tell him of her dream. He could tell she was terrified when she woke. Her breathing was erratic and she had the look of a wild animal in her eyes. He felt a sudden wave of guilt rush over him. He was not accustomed to such a feeling. Now that he was human his senses had dimmed but his emotions were running wild and he was not pleased about that.

Watching her tremble at the thought of being with Naraku made him angry at himself. He never should have allowed Naraku to take her. When her spirit barrier had dropped he should have gone after the demon and prevented all of the pain the girl had been forced to suffer. It was disgraceful that he not protected her after she had done so much to protect him. He slowly put his arm around her shoulders, feeling very awkward about the gesture.

"The last time you contacted me in your dream, Hitomi also came to me. I was forced to watch Naraku do horrible things to you. I watched you bleed and suffer through unspeakable pain, yet you did not once lose your honor. I saw you tremble in fear when he had you in his bed, yet you thought only of the safety of others." Kagome blushed and looked at Sesshoumaru, not realizing that he had known what had happened to her.

"You are a strong person, Kagome. Neither Naraku nor Hitomi will defeat you."

She stared into his eyes for a moment and then forced herself to look away. She would not allow herself to befriend him again, just to have him turn again once they restored his demon blood.

He then spoke in a soft voice "Why did you cry when you were forced to watch my memories? Naraku had done so many horrible things to you and not once did you show that much emotion. I had turned my back on you and you still cried for me." She looked up at him. He had an honest look of wonder in his eyes.

"I don't know why I cried. It was just painful to watch. You were just a child and you were in so much pain." He continued to stare at her, not able to grasp how any being could be so selfless.

Kagome's head suddenly lurched up as a familiar presence was near. "Miroku…" She broke into a run back towards camp and checked on the monk. He was indeed having a nightmare. She tried to wake him but couldn't get him to open his eyes. Sesshoumaru was by her side and now InuYasha too was awake.

"What's goin' on Kagome?" Asked InuYasha as he sat up. "Hitomi has pulled Miroku into another dream." She put her hands on him hoping to put her positive energy into him and force Hitomi out. However, her hands were burned when she tried to use her power. She jerked them back and looked at her palms. They held burns on them and there was a glow coming from Miroku.

"I've got to go into his dream." Kagome quickly laid down and focused her energy. She could hear InuYasha's voice but didn't answer his questions. She simply let her spirit free. She was again watching Miroku run towards his father as his wind tunnel was about to implode. Mushin was no where to be seen, and she broke into a full run.

However, this time she didn't make it. His father's wind tunnel imploded and Miroku disappeared in front of her. She began screaming frantically and went to the place he had been. She then felt Hitomi near. She turned and saw her there.

"I told you that you would regret not obeying me." Kagome ran towards her. "Where is he?" She was furious and suddenly felt her own power surging. The demoness too sensed it and quickly bound Kagome's powers.

"Your friend is with me now, but I guarantee he will not last long." Kagome tried to refocus her energy and find Miroku but couldn't.

"Hitomi, what did you do with Miroku?" She stalked towards the demoness. "His life will be spared, if you choose to become my servant. If not he will suffer the same fate as his father." Kagome felt a sudden shove and woke violently. She scrambled back to Miroku and again attempted to use her powers. She held her hands on him, though they were literally being scorched. She cried out in pain but held them there until she felt herself being pulled off of him. Sesshoumaru had her around the waist and she was desperately trying to break free and return to the monk.

"Miroku, wake up! Fight her, please! Don't let her get to you, you can fight her!" She was screaming hysterically as everyone was now awake watching the scene.

She finally struggled out of Sesshoumaru's grasp and was again at Miroku's side. She grabbed his hand and could see a glow coming from his prayer beads. She began sobbing, knowing that his wind tunnel was being attacked and would soon start to spread.

"God, no. Miroku you have to fight her. Please!" The group sat stunned at Kagome's outburst and no one spoke as she sobbed over Miroku's body. Again she was about to put her hands on him when Sesshoumaru grasped them from behind her.

"You are not doing him any good by harming yourself. Heal your wounds." She sat there for a moment and realized that he would not let her go until she did what he instructed. She could feel him pressed against her back and he tightened his grip on her, causing her to calm herself. She focused her power into her hands and they began to heal. He released her and moved away.

She looked up at InuYasha, who still sat stunned. "She is attacking his wind tunnel. I can't get to him." She turned to Sango who held a look of terror in her eyes as she gazed down at Miroku's sleeping body. "I have to go back. If I agree to become her servant, she'll let him go." Kagome moved to lie down again and was roughly grabbed by Sesshoumaru. "You will not do that. If you agree to become her servant you will lose your soul to her. You will be nothing more than a puppet that will be forced to do her bidding." She looked at him and then over to Miroku and began sobbing. "I can't let her kill him."

InuYasha stood and went to Miroku. He too saw the glowing prayer beads. "We need to move now. We'll get Miroku back to Sesshoumaru's castle as soon as possible and then figure out what we need to do." He looked to Sango and then said that someone should take Kilala and get him there faster.

Sesshoumaru said he would take him to the castle and see that his servants would take care of the monk. Kagome immediately spoke up. "I'm going too." Sesshoumaru looked at her for a moment and then nodded. "We will take him to the castle and send your animal back for the rest of you."